Filing-case.



' No. 683,295. Fatenitl` Sept. 24, |9Ul.

W. D. & J. D. KELLY.

FILING CASE.

(Applicatiox led Dec. 32|., 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM D. KELLY AND JOHN D. KELLY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Ai-lLlNe-VoAsI-L SFEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 683,295, dated. September 24, 1901.

Application filed December 3l, 1900. Serial No. 4l, '713. (No model.) i

\ tion.

This invention relates to improvements in files of that class in which an adjustable follower is located in a holder and is adapted to be forced against, so as to compress the contents of the case, and then secured by some suitable fastening means, so as to maintain the compression.

The primary object of this invention is to have a self-locking follower that will automatically lock itself in any adjusted position in the casing and hold the contents of the casing under compression and which may be instantly released and the compression removed without the manipulation of any locking device.

Another object is to have the adjustable follower self-locking in such manner that it will automatically lock itself in any adjusted position, whether the compression be at one side or the other thereof, so that the same follower may be used for compressing letters or other papers at either end of the casing or drawer.

A further object is to have the adjustable follower self-locking by friction alone, whereby is avoided the necessity for employing` cases which broadly attains the foregoing obbrought tightly against the under surface of the drawer or case and in which a frictionplate may be ilsed of simpler construction than that shown in our aforesaid application.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by the device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a filing case or drawer for a cabinet embodying our invention. Fig. 2 represents a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a plan View of the simplest form of friction-plate. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a central section showing the attachment of the guide-rod to the drawer or casing, and Fig. 6 is a detail, and Fig. 7 shows a modification of our device.

It will be understood that our invention may be embodied in many different styles of filing-cases, whether they be in separate boxes or casings or in the shape of drawers for cabi nets, and it will be also understood that this le is adapted for use with index-cards which are provided with a perforated ear and are employed in a manner well understood to classify or divide the contents of the file for convenience in filing and for reference.

Referring now by letter to the accom panying drawings, A indicates the drawer or casing, having a central longitudinal slot B in the bottom thereof, and C represents a follower fltting transversely within the drawer, but so as to move freely therein, said follower being secured about the center of its length, at the lower edge thereof, to a friction-plate D, which is preferably composed of metal. This plate may be of any suitable shape which .will permit of its being loosely attached to the follower at a point or points on said follower opposite the longitudinal slot B and in such a manner that the friction-plate shall present a surface for frictional contact with the under side of the casing. The simplest form of this friction-plate is a liat plate, as shown in Figs. l to 4 of the drawings. Obviously it may be bent to a generally U shape to loosely fit within said slot and with Iianges bent so as to present flat surfaces for frictional contact with the under side of the casing on either side of the slot, in which event the friction-plate also serves as a guide for the follower to hold it in position transversely of the box. The follower is loosely secured to the friction-plate by one or more screws, links, or other suitable fastening means which shall provide some degree of play or lost motion between the follower and the friction- IOO plate, so that when the follower is in upright position the friction-plate will hang below, but not in frictional contact with, the under surface of the casing. (See Fig. 6.) The simplest form of such attachment consists in nails or screws passing through holes in the friction plate, said holes being somewhat larger in diameter than the diameter of such nails or screws, whereby the attaching nails or screws are allowed a limited amount of play longitudinallyofthefriction-plate. Another suitable attachment is obtained by striking up one or more eyes from the material of the friction-plate and attaching the friction-plate to the follower by one or more staples passing through such eye or eyes, as shown in Fig. 7.

In case my device is used with index-cards provided with projecting perforated ears or tabs through which a guide-rod is passed for securing the cards before removal the longitudinal slot B provides ample space for such tabs and for such guide-rod. The guiderod G may be detachably secured to the drawer-as, for instance, by the means shown in-the drawings, consisting of a metallic plate H, rigidly secured to the drawer-front and having a screw-threaded perforation therein, which engages the screw-threads I, formed on or secured to the shank of the knob J, to which the rod G is rigidly secured. The inner end of the rod enters the socket or perforation in the back wall of the drawer, from which it may be freely withdrawn.

It will be observed that the follower C, by reason of its attachment to the friction-plate D and resting at its ends on each side of said plate upon the bottom of the drawer, acts as a lever whenever the upper free edge thereof is deflected to either side of a central position. The friction-plate being loosely attached to the follower is not tilted by the deflection of the follower from a central position; but when the friction-plate is attached to the follower by links-as, for instance, a staple in the follower passing through an eye in the friction-plate-the deliection of the follower swings the link or staple attached t0 the follower upward and causes the same to pull upward upon the eye of the friction-plate in substantially a vertical direction, whereby the opposing surfaces of the friction-plate and of the under surface of the casing are drawn tightly together, thereby firmly locking the follower against movement longitudinally in the casing. If, however, the attaching means between the follower and friction-plate consists of a single member-as, for instance, a screw or nail passing through perforations in the friction-plate of greater diameter than the attaching means-such attaching means will likewise be swung upwardly by the deflection of the follower until that portion of the attaching means which projects below the friction-plate shall have been swung into contact with aportion of the under surface of the friction-plate, whereupon the further deflection of the follower and movement of the attaching means will lift the entire friction-plate upward in a substantially vertical direction until the opposing surface of the friction-plate and of the under surface of the casing are forced tightly together, thereby furnishing a frictional lock to prevent movement of the follower longitudinally of the casing. In either construction the follower will remain locked in the adjusted position as long as the deflecting tension due to the compressed papers between the follower and the end of the drawer is maintained. By forcing the upper edge of the follower toward the compressed papers and into its middle position the friction-plate becomes released and falls out of contact with the under side of the casing and the follower is free to move bodily within the casing, carrying with it the friction-plate. To reestablish the compression, it is only necessary to force the follower tightly against the papers and then release it,when the expansive force of the papers will cause the follower to again cant and to instantly and automatically lock.

Obviously changes may be made in the shape and construction of our device, and the friction of the lock may be differently applied; but all such changes are contemplated by our invention.

Having thus described our invention, what weclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-n 1. In a filing-case, the combination with a casing of an adjustable follower and a selfacting friction-lock between said casing and follower, comprising a friction-plate and a loose connection between said friction-plate and said follower whereby the surface of said plate will be drawn against and locked with a portion of said casing by the deflection of said follower from an unlocked position, substantially as described.

2. In a filing-case the combination with a casing of an adjustable self-locking follower working therein, a friction-plate and a loose connection between said friction-plate and said follower all so combined that said frictionplate will be drawn against and locked with the under side of said casing by the deflection of said follower from an unlocked position, substantially as described.

3. In a filing-case, the combination with a casing of an adjustable follower, and a friction-plate loosely attached to said follower in such a manner that said friction-plate will be drawn against and locked with a portion of said casing whenever pressure is applied to either side of said follower, substantially as described. Y

4. In a filing-case, the combination with a casing, of an adjustable follower, and a lockingplate loosely attached to said follower and arranged so that the uppei surface ofthe locking-plate shall engage the under side of said casing whenever said follower is deflected IIO tion-lock between said easing and follower comprising a friction-plate loosely attached to said follower so arranged that the upper surface of said plate will automatically engage the under surface of said easing whenever pressure s exerted against either face of said follower, substantially as described.

WILLIAM D. KELLY. JOHN D. KELLY. Witnesses:

M. E. SHIELDS, E. Y. GRIDLEY. 

